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Cornwall Mills N.C.
May 27th 1868

Col Allan Rutherford}
Wilmington NC

Dr Sir
In reply to yours of the 16. inst I have to say that I have no means of arriving exactly at the ages of the boys I wrote you about. I only judge from their appearances and some other circumstances. Dick is about 16 or 17. Fed 12 or 13 & Frank about 9 years of age the two former have a mother who is in no wise calculated to take charge of and manage such boys hence the reason of their haveing been apprenticed  by Lieut McQuigg. the other boy Frank has an uncle which I know but little about. I am also informed that he has a mother living somewhere in this state I do not vouch for the truth of this.
Dick and Fed with the right kind of an